Radiologists Help Identify Child Abuse

In the United States alone, approximately 906,000 children were victims of neglect or abuse in 2003, and radiologists are playing a crucial role when these cases of alleged abuse end up in court proceedings.

There are a host of indicators of abuse that can be seen using radiography and other imaging methods, according to researchers at the University of Kentucky Medical Center (Lexington, KY, USA), who have comprised an interactive exhibit of cases from the University of Kentucky Medical Center to help radiologists accurately diagnose child abuse.

A red flag should appear when a radiologist discovers fractures in different stages of healing, fractures at the very end of the long bones (which can occur when a child has been shaken), posterior rib fractures, and long-bone fractures in children who are not walking, said Andrea Walker, DO, from the University of Kentucky. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain can identify repeated hemorrhages, and MR spectroscopy can detect increased lactate levels, which are found in hypoxic (loss or reduction of oxygen) injuries.

"On the other hand, there are a number of diseases and disorders that could potentially be mistaken for abuse,” said Dr. Walker. "For example, metabolic bone diseases, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, can show up on a radiologic examination as multiple fractures, which can also be seen in abuse. However, if we take a second look, and see that all the bones are abnormal, we can be confident that the child suffers from a disease rather than abuse. Cases of alleged child abuse often end up in the courtroom and the radiologist is a critical component of the case because radiographs are objective data. It is crucial to be well informed.”

The electronic exhibit was displayed at the annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society in New Orleans in May 2005.




Related Links:
University of Kentucky Medical Center